Recent Blog Posts

Initial Session of the PHA (Part 5)

December 22nd, 2020

Most PHAs are conducted in multiple sessions. The number and duration of the sessions will be determined by team member availability and system complexity. Often, the initial session of the PHA is used to: Introduce each member of the PHA team; Review the requirements and purpose of the PHA; Introduce the team to the chosen […]

PHA Logistics (Part 4)

December 8th, 2020

It is ideal to perform the PHA at the site where the process being studied is located. This provides opportunity to verify the system configuration if needed. The PHA team will need to meet in a room that is large enough to comfortably seat each team member. Prior to meeting as a team, all logistical […]

PHA Team (Part 3)

November 24th, 2020

A PHA is performed by a team. This important distinction differentiates it from other process safety audits and inspections. At minimum, the PHA team must consist of team members with expertise in both engineering and process operations. At least one employee who has experience and knowledge specific to the process being evaluated must be on […]

Scheduling a PHA (Part 2)

November 10th, 2020

To ensure that adequate time is allotted for performing a PHA, it is important to schedule it in advance. It is not uncommon to begin preparation 2-4 months prior to the due date to secure an opportune time to conduct the study. Planning several months in advance, helps provide opportunity to prepare or update the […]

PHA Overview (Part 1)

October 27th, 2020

A PHA is the cornerstone of an effective PSM Program. In the next several blogs, we will consider various aspects of PHAs to help improve understanding regarding this important process safety activity. What is a PHA? A process hazard analysis, or PHA, is an organized and systematic effort to identify, evaluate, and control potential hazards […]